urniture,
that term which covers such a multitude of sins, and inspiring
virtues, too! We have the Colonial which closely resembles the Empire,
and we have what is sometimes styled the Chippendale Colonial,
following the Chippendale of England. Our Colonial cabinet-makers
used as models, beautiful pieces imported from England, Holland and
France by the wealthier members of our communities. Also a Chinese and
Japanese influence crept in, on account of the lacquer and carved teak
wood, brought home by our seafaring ancestors. It is quite possible
that the carved teak wood stimulated the clever maker of some of the
most beautiful Victorian furniture made in America, which is gradually
finding its way into the hands of collectors. Some of these
cabinet-makers glued together and put under heavy pressure seven to
nine layers of rosewood with the grain running at every angle, so as
to produce strength. When the layers had been crushed into a solid
block, they carved their open designs, using one continuous piece of
wood for the ornamental rim of even large sofas. The best of the
Victorian period is attractive, but how can we express our opinion of
those American monstrosities of the sixties or seventies, beds in
rosewood and walnut, the head-boards covering the side of a room,
bureaus proportionately huge, following out the idea that a piece of
furniture to be beautiful must be very large and very expensive! It
is to be hoped that the lovely rosewood and walnut wasted at that time
are to-day being rescued by wary cabinet-makers.

The art of furniture making, like every other art, came into being to
serve a clearly defined purpose. This must not be forgotten. A chair
and a sofa are to sit on; a mirror, to _reflect_. Remember this last
fact when hanging one. It is important that your mirror reflect one of
the most attractive parts of your room, and thus contribute its quota
to your scheme of decoration. It is interesting to note that chairs
were made with solid wooden seats when men wore armour, velvet
cushions followed more fragile raiment, and tapestries while always
mural decorations were first used in place of doors and partitions, in
feudal castles, before there were interior doors and partitions. Any
piece of furniture is artistically bad when it does not satisfactorily
serve its purpose. The equally fundamental law that everything useful
should at the same time be beautiful cannot be repeated too often.

Period rooms wh